Dosimetric Significance of the ICRP's Updated Guidance and Models, 1989-2003, and Implications for U.S. Federal Guidance

Abstract

Over the past two decades the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a series of Federal guidance documents for the purpose of providing the Federal and State agencies with technical information to assist their implementation of radiation protection programs. Currently recommended dose conversion factors, annual limits on intake, and derived air concentrations for intake of radionuclides are tabulated in Federal Guidance Report No. 11 (FGR 11), published in 1988. The tabulations in FGR 11 were based on dosimetric quantities and biokinetic and dosimetric models of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) developed for application to occupational exposures. Since the publication of FGR 11 the ICRP has revised some of its dosimetric quantities and its models for workers and has also developed age-specific models and dose conversion factors for intake of radionuclides by members of the public. This report examines the extent of the changes in the inhalation and ingestion dose coefficients of FGR 11 implied by the updated recommendations of the ICRP, both for workers and members of the public.

Uranium, Mining and Hydrogeology

“…3) are coherent with data published referring to radium absorption through this pathway (Leggett and Eckerman 2003;IAEA 2004;Beresford et al 2004). Concerning to radium absorption, model results ( Fig.…”

Integrated Methodology for the Environmental Risk Assessment of an Abandoned Uranium Mining Site

“…Concerning to radium absorption, model results (Fig. 3) are coherent with data published referring to radium absorption through this pathway (Leggett and Eckerman 2003;IAEA 2004;Beresford et al 2004). After ingestion, radium is quickly spread to organs tissues until its maximum absorption, followed by an immediate decrease in blood.…”

“…Nevertheless, simulation results for 210 Po (Fig. 3) fit within the range of values given in the literature although many assumptions had to be done due to the limited available data; conservative parameters had to be used in some cases (Leggett and Eckerman 2003;IAEA 2004;Beresford et al 2004). …”

Organ S values and effective doses for family members exposed to adult patients following I-131 treatment: A Monte Carlo simulation study

“…First, the source region for hyperthyroid-patient was the thyroid gland, given that the thyroid gland may demonstrate an uptake of the order of 80% or more of available circulating radioiodine in hyperthyroid-patients. 11,12 A thyroid source distribution is also applicable to the approximation of radioiodine uptake in the postoperative thyroid gland remnant in patients undergoing I-131 remnant ablation after thyroidectomy or in patients with residual iodine-avid metastatic lymph node involvement within the neck.…”

“…16 Thus, in order to be conservative, the source regions for simulating DTC included all sites of significant iodine localization such as the lungs, thyroid bed (simulating the gland remnants or neck lymph nodes), salivary glands, stomach (contents and wall), small intestine (contents and wall), colon (contents and wall), liver, kidneys, and urinary bladder (contents and wall). 11 We excluded bone metastases in this study because they may occur randomly throughout the whole body. 13 The I-131 photon spectrum reported by International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) Publication No.…”